John Adams was a true republican.  His political opponents charged him with monarchical tendencies and aspirations, but charged him most falsely.  His life, devoted unreservedly to the service of his country through all its dark and perilous journey to the achievement of its independence—­his public speeches and documents—­his private letters, written to his bosom companion, with no expectation that the eye of any other would ever rest upon them—­all testify his ardent devotion to the principles of republicanism.  At the breaking out of the French Revolution, he yielded it his hearty support, and did not withdraw his countenance, until compelled, by the scenes of anarchy and of carnage which soon ensued, to turn away with horror and raise his voice against proceedings of savage ferocity.  But while condemning the excesses of the French revolutionists, he was no friend of Great Britain.  This is made evident by a multitude of facts.  Read, for instance, the following extract from a letter, not written for public effect, addressed to his wife, dated Philadelphia, April 9, 1796:—­

“I have read ‘the minister’s’ dispatches from London.  The King could not help discovering his old ill humor.  The mad idiot will never recover.  Blunderer by nature, accidents are all against him.  Every measure of his reign has been wrong.  It seems they don’t like Pinckney.  They think he is no friend to that country, and too much of a French Jacobin.  They wanted to work up some idea or other of introducing another in his place, but our young politician [Footnote:  J. Q. Adams.] saw into them too deeply to be duped.  At his last visit to Court, the King passed him without speaking to him, which, you know, will be remarked by courtiers of all nations.  I am glad of it; for I would not have my son go so far as Mr. Jay, and affirm the friendly disposition of that country to this.  I know better.  I know their jealousy, envy, hatred, and revenge, covered under pretended contempt.”

While President Adams cherished no partialities for Great Britain, and had no desire to promote her especial interest, he was compelled by the force of circumstances, during his administration to assume a hostile attitude towards France.  The French Directory, chagrined at the failure of all attempts to induce the government of the United States to abandon its neutrality and take up arms in their behalf against the Allied Sovereigns, and deeply incensed at the treaty recently concluded between England and the United States, resorted to retaliatory measures.  They adopted commercial regulations designed to cripple and destroy our foreign trade.  They passed an ordinance authorizing, in certain cases, the seizure and confiscation of American vessels and cargoes.  They refused to receive Mr. Pinckney, the American minister, and ordered him peremptorily to leave France.